Mr. Hirsch to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, June 19, 1890.
(Received July 5.)
No. 141.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of
a communication (No. 62) from Consul-General Sweeney, transmitting a
dispatch (No. 131) from Consul Gillman, at Jerusalem, a copy of which is
herewith inclosed, from which it would appear that on May 23 a riot took
place in Jaffa, during which the Christians of that place were attacked by a
Moslem mob carrying banners and “mostly armed with sticks.” The papers
before me, as will be seen, do not contain sufficient information to enable
me to judge of the seriousness of the affair, nor do they give any
information as to whether any American citizens have been molested,
attacked, or injured.
I have therefore requested Consul-General Sweeney to obtain for the
information of the legation as full an account as possible of the
unfortunate occurrence, and especially to ascertain whether any American
citizens have been in any way interfered with.
His Highness the Grand Vizier, in reply to my inquiry, assured me that the
affair was a mere local brawl, and that order and tranquillity are
maintained in Jaffa and throughout Palestine.
In order to further satisfy myself as to the character of the occurrence, I
called upon His Excellency Baron de Calice, the Austrian ambassador, who
informs me that his advices indicate that, while there may have been a
design to start a serious disturbance, the outbreak was immediately put down
by the authorities.
He does not regard the situation as in any way serious, but, on the contrary,
satisfactory. Owing to his many years of service in this place and his
opportunities for correct information, his opinion is entitled to much
weight.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 141.].
Mr. Sweeney to Mr.
Hirsch.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Constantinople, June 11, 1890.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a
dispatch from the consul at Jerusalem, concerning the riot in which the
Christians were attacked by a Moslem mob at Jaffa on the 23d May,
1890.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure A.]
Mr. Gillman to Mr.
Sweeney.
Consulate of the United States,
Jerusalem, May 26,
1890.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
dispatch No. 168, dated the 26th instant, for transmission to the
Department of State at Washington.
The character of the riot therein referred to as occurring at Jaffa on
the 23d instant, in which the Christians were attacked by a Moslem mob
carrying banners and mostly armed with sticks, was sufficiently serious
to call for a consular meeting, in which the vice-consuls of Germany,
Austria, and Italy were delegated to the governor to insist on his
taking precautions to prevent such riots, and making him [Page 769] responsible for the tranquillity of the
population in general. It is to be noted that the local authorities were
slow in interfering with the riot. I have just heard a rumor that a riot
of even a more serious character than that reported as occurring on the
23d instant; took place yesterday at Jaffa.
In this connection it may be proper for me to state that for some weeks
past reports have reached me as to an unusually bitter enmity being
displayed by Moslems to Christians in Jerusalem; and many have expressed
to me the fear that in case of a dangerous outbreak the present governor
of Jerusalem and Palestine would not have sufficient influence with the
Moslems to control them, in which fear I confess to sharing.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure B.]
Mr. Gillman to Mr.
Wharton.
Consulate of the United States,
Jerusalem, May 26, 1890.
(Received June 19, 1890).
No. 168.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that I have
received information from our consular agent at Jaffa of the occurrence
at that place, on the 23d instant, of riotous demonstrations against the
Christians on the part of a Moslem mob carrying banners, and mostly
armed with sticks, and with which the local authorities have been slow
in interfering.
The character of the riot was such as to oblige the calling of a consular
meeting at Jaffa, at which it was unanimously decided to delegate the
vice-consuls of Germany, Austria, and Italy to the governor of Jaffa, to
insist on his taking proper precautions to prevent such riots, and
making him responsible for the tranquillity of the population in
general.
In this connection, it may be proper for me to state that for some weeks
past reports have reached me as to an unusually bitter enmity being
displayed toward Christians on the part of the Moslems in Jerusalem; and
many have expressed to me the fear that in case of a dangerous outbreak
the present governor of Jerusalem and Palestine would have little or no
influence with the Moslems to control them, and in which fear I confess
to sharing.
I have just heard a rumor that on yesterday a riot of even a more serious
character than that reported as occurring on the 23d instant has taken
place at Jaffa.
I am, etc.,
